Surgical suction apparatus



March 26; 1946. P. P.n GoLAND ETAI. 2,397,257

' SURGICAL sUcTIoN A)\PPQLRIJBUS Filed Feb.' 4`, 1943 v 2 sheets-sheet 1Fig 1 March 26, 1946. P. P. GOLANDv x-:TAL 2,397,257-

SURGVI CAL SUGTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4; 1943 2 Sheetsheet 2 PatentedMar. 26, 1946 sURGIoAL sUoTIoN APPARATUS Philip P. Goland and Charles R.Drew, Washing-- ton, D. C., assignors of two-'fifths to Philip P.Goland, two-fifths to Charles R. Drew, as

trustee,l and one-'fifth tolAltheaD. Kessler Application February 4,194s, serial No. 474,744 2 claims.' (c1. 12s-27s) Thelinvention'rel'ates vto surgical .suction apparatus 4and has as anobject the provision of a devicev of this character that .may beproduced .at avery much lower cost than devices .now onthe market forthe purpose.

1 It is a further object oi the .invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter that shall have substantially no Vfrangible parts; `one`'which may be packed in 'a very compact package, and which because ofvthese qualities. will be especially :useful in army, navy., or.wilderness use generally.

Further objects ci' the invention will .appear from the followingdescription when .read in connection with the accompanying drawingsshowing illustrative embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus as it will appear in use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing one portion of the apparatus packedin another portion for carrying;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a form of clamp band;

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical transverse sections drawn to an enlargedscale showing a valved connector and a plain connector respectively;

Fig.. 6 is a detail vertical section of an end closure for one of theparts; and

Till

. closing valves 32, 33,

Fig. 7 is a like view of an end closure of another y part.

After surgical operations it is frequent for a patient to becomedistended with gas, to his great discomfort, and it is the practice toinsert a tube, usually through the nostril, into the stomach, and eveninto the small intestine. Such a tube is .shown at Ill with the partsofthe body through which it is inserted shown diagrammatically. The tube lleads to a chamber I I for reception of gas or any liquids that may bedrawn 01T, entering the chamber by means of a connector I2 shownenlarged in Figure 5, as comprising a screwthreaded exterior i3, aconnector for the tubing M, a tubular portion I projecting into thechamber and an outlet I6 having a portion l'I to which a suction tube I8may be attached.

The suction tube I8 leads to suction device I9 shown as suspended fromthe bracket by means of flexible members 2l. To measure the amount ofreduced pressure produced by the device I9, the tube i8 is shown asequipped With a Y 22 one branch of which is connected to tube 23 whichin turn connects to a manometer 24.

The suction device I9 is shown as provided in the form of a collapsiblebellows-like chamber having upper and lower closure plates 25, 26,

lshown in detail in Figure i6. The lower of these plates is shownasprovided with a hook 2l upon which weights 28 may be hung toincreasethe suction 'and by varying the number of weights suspendedmaydetermine the amount of suction., as indicated on the manometer v24.`

For convenience, but not essentially, the closures 25, 26 are .formedwith a circumferential groove 29 and the upper .and lower ends ofl thecollapsible member I9` are .shown as clamped in these grooves by .meansof a screw clamp member 3B, as .indicated 'in Figure ;3. If desired,reinforcing strips 43 may be .provided in the bellows I9 to take theweight of the` plate 26 or -of weights lsuspended therefrom when thebellowsis :fully extended. Y

The form of clamp band shown is only for purposes of illustration assome other form of connection, quick detachable, cam, or toggle-operatedclamp, may desirably be substituted therefor. Also if it is desired theclosure plates 25, 26 may be made permanently attached to the member I9.

A plug 3| for the top of member I9 is shown in Figure 4 as provided withinwardly and outwardly The valve 32 will close by gravity. Valve 33 isshown as provided with a light spring 34 to ensure its closure.

The tube I8 is to be-attached to the member 35 and the member 36 whenused as shown is merely a vent. It will be seen that when the member I 9has yielded to the suction so as to become fully extended, it is onlynecessary to push upwardly on the bottom of the closure 25 whereupon thevalve 33 will closeand valve 32 will open to expel air from the chamber,and release of this upward pressure will instantly place the device intooperation.

For compactness when prepared for transportation, the member I I is alsoshown as collapsible and in use it is supported by struts 3l which aredesirably telescopic so that they may be folded into a small space andplaced inside of the chamber II, This chamber is shown as having aclosure 38 secured with a suitable gasket to make the same air-tight, bymeans of wing screws 39, or in any other desirable manner to provide anairtight joint.

Should the chamber I9 become damaged or lost, it is possible to placethe plug 3l in the place of the plug I2 :and either dispense entirelywith a chamber for II or improvise a chamber for this purpose out of afive-gallon can or a jug with a corkreceiving the tubes I Il and I8.

The bracket 20 is of course no necessary portion of the apparatus as themember I9, or Il if substituted therefor, can be hung upon a limb of atree or a tentV pole or any other convenient ob- ,V dect. Y- Y vTheexpense of usual devices forthe purposes of the present invention issuch as to makeit prohibitive for small hospitals to supply as many astheyljshould have. i Since the present device can be. constructed at afractionrof such cost,

every hospital can have a liberal number. In use the device has beenfound to be very flexible,n conf "l venient;` and efficient.

In the operation of the Ydevicelvvii'h thettube l0 in place and theapparatusy arranged vas illus.-

trated, the attendant will merelyglift the plate V2li and Weight 28, andrelease the same. K Airc'zomy pressed in the space within the chamber I9will N forcer valve 33 closed aided by spring 3'4 and open valve 32.When the plate is released suction will 'Y begin at'once with reversalof the valves 32, 33

" and the vacuum createdrwill be determined by the amount Aof VWeight 28and indicated on the device 24. ,n I f, The timerduring which the deviceWill operate Without attention will be determined, otherrthings beingequal, by the volumeof the'chamber i9.

VIt'rgxraln be increased in either diameter or length to increase theperiod of operation.

`The chamber Vlll-may be suspended asshown, or vfrom theY limb of atree, or from a tent pole, or afhook qcan beV applied to an uprightV ofa bed-'- stead 'for its support. Because of its adaptability andfcompactpacking possibilities it is capable of a widerange of service in war orin peace.

Minor changes maybe made in the physical embodiments of the, inventionwithin the scope comprising, in'coxnbination: a plate manuallyrestrainable to remain stationary against move-V 2,397,257 Y l .of theappended claims without departing from Y the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. Surgical suction apparatus comprising, inA

combination: a collapsible suction device; a collapsible receptorchamber; said device and cham'- Vber of airtight construction; a ventfrom said de-V vice to atmosphere;A conduit Vmeans connecting saiddeviceand chamber, conduit means connecting said chamber and a stomach tube;means to control inflow and outflow from said device; means whereby saiddevice is expanded by force of gravity; and strut` means to preventcollapse i'ofsaid chamber; said device being enclosablein jJsaid'chamberwith both in at least partly col-V lapsed condition.r y f2. A readily portable surgical suction device outgoing vgase'sto theatmosphere` and'ingoing Y gases into said space and to prevent a reversecle-- livery; conduit means to place said spacein comi munication withthe interior of a patents body;

means to adjust the pull of gravity on said movable plate; and means tosuspend said rst named plate from a support.

cHAs. n.V DREW.

PHILIP P.V GOLAND. l

